to black and tarry. Although bleeding may subside for
a while, it tends to recurs intermittently. The bleeding
associated with Meckel’s diverticulum may be so copi-
ous that blood transfusions are required.
A person with intestinal blockage due to Meckel’s
diverticulum may also experience abdominal pain or
discomfort that ranges from mild to severe.
In rare cases, food or other swallowed objects may
become trapped in the diverticulum pouch, leading to
pain and swelling.
Symptoms of inflammation due to Meckel’s diver-
ticulum may appear similar to symptoms of appendi-
citis, an inflammation of the appendix. A person with
Meckel’s diverticulum may have a distended abdo-
men, cramping pain, and vomiting, much like a person
with appendicitis. If surgery for suspected appendicitis
reveals a normal appendix, physicians should check
for Meckel’s diverticulum in the patient at the time of
surgery.
If a person’s symptoms are not yet severe, doctors
may use a variety of tests to aid in the diagnosis:
Blood tests. Blood tests, such as hematocrit and
hemoglobin levels, to check for anemia (low number
of red blood cells in the body) or stool smear tests to
check for blood may be used. These test results can-
not be used to directly diagnose Meckel’s diverticu-
lum, but they may point to bleeding that is indicative
of the condition.
Nuclear scans. In non-emergency situations, doctors
can inject dye into the outer opening of the belly
button while examining the intestinal tract with a
nuclear scan. The injected dye collects at bleeding
sites or in stomach tissue, so if the doctors see
blood or stomach tissue in the lower intestines, they
will be able to diagnose Meckel’s diverticulum.
Barium studies. Although barium studies are typi-
cally used in the diagnosis of digestive disorders,
evidence suggests that using barium is unreliable in
detecting Meckel’s diverticulum.
Rectosigmoidoscopy. Physicians may also use a
small flexible tube with a camera on the end, called
a sigmoidoscope, to evaluate the rectum and colon
for blockages, bleeding, or other problems.
In most cases of symptomatic Meckel’s divertic-
ulum, surgical removal of the pouch is necessary. Sur-
gery (physicians may refer to this as a resection) can
restore blood supply to the intestines and eliminate
symptoms of Meckel’s diverticulum. If a person expe-
riences heavy bleeding or severe abdominal pain,
emergency surgery is usually required. Surgeons mayactually diagnose the condition when the abdomen is
cut open and can be inspected.
After surgery, a person with Meckel’s diverticu-
lum will receive intravenous fluids, pain medications,
and sometimes antibiotics. Once the intestines begin
making bowel sounds, which indicates that the gastro-
intestinal tract is working, a patient can usually begin
taking food by mouth.Function
Unlike diverticulosis, a condition in which small
pouches form in the large intestine, there are no special
dietary changes associated with the treatment or pre-
vention of Meckel’s diverticulum.
Patients with diverticulosis are advised to eat a
high-fiber dietto prevent or lessen the severity of the
condition.Fiber, the parts of grains, fruit, and vegeta-
bles that the body cannot digest, helps soften stool. For
people with diverticulosis, soft stools are necessary to
prevent blockages and constipation. Doctors think
these diverticular pouches occur when a person is con-
stipated and the excess pressure from the hard stool in
the colon causes weakened portions of the colon to
bulge out, forming diverticula (plural of diverticulum).
However, because Meckel’s diverticulum is a con-
genital condition and the small intestinal pouches are
unrelated to fiber intake or constipation, eating a
high-fiber diet - although recommended in general
for good health - offers no particular beneficial
advantage. Also, because most people without symp-
toms do not even know they have the condition, mak-
ing dietary changes would be improbably anyway.Benefits
There are no benefits associated with Meckel’s
diverticulum. Special diets cannot alter the outcome
or prevent the condition.Precautions
There are no precautions that can be taken to
prevent this condition. Meckel’s diverticulum is not
a hereditary condition, and most people do not
even know they have it unless they begin experiencing
symptoms.
However, research has shown that people with
certain congenital anomalies may be more likely to
develop Meckel’s diverticulum. An increased incidence
of the condition is seen in people with esophageal
atresia, anus and rectal malformations, omphalocele,
Crohn’s disease, and other neurological and cardiovas-
cular abnormalities.Meckel’s diverticulum